Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Reflecting on my Life with Grandma Pauline

I know I haven't been on here in a long time, but this is something I feel very strongly I need to write and share. My grandma Pauline passed away this afternoon, She was hospitalized on Thanksgiving and passed this afternoon.

I can remember as a little girl, living on Long Island, mom taking us to the train station on Friday as Grandma would arrive. It surely meant we were going to have a great weekend... I loved the excitement of the big black train coming into the station, my heart beating and knowing grandma was going to get off. Searching through the people until I saw her! One thing was always inevitable Grandma had peanut brittle in her purse and I was going to get some!

When Grandma was visiting Saturday am was certain to be met with silver Mexican jewels that she brought back from one of her trips. By the time I was 6 I knew the names of most of the gems and always loved seeing photos of her trip. She traveled a lot, with her sister Esther.

When we were old enough my sister and I would go to visit her in Brooklyn. She took us to see the rockettes, and museums. I loved the subway, but had a hard time sleeping with all the noise! I loved riding her elevator and I always remember dreaming about the "diamond door knobs" in her apartment. I have a house full of them now and I always think of being a little girl in that Brooklyn apartment. It is very comforting in a way!

When grandma retired from her job as a bookkeeper, she moved down to Boca Raton. She lived in a retirement community and it was always fun to go visit. There were pools, and workout rooms, hot tubs and lots of other teenagers. We played shuffleboard and I rolled my eyes as she dragged me to senior water aerobics. Little did I know how young I would be when I found water aerobic 'fun'! ha... She was unique but busy in her own life...

Then when she wasn't able to take care of herself, we moved her into an assisted living facility. Cleaning out her condo was interesting for sure. We found the pink melamine plates we begged her to leave in Brooklyn and many other odd things tucked in the ceiling tiles of her kitchen. I got yelled at by some old guy with argyle socks for filling up the trash can! We found love letters from her ex, as a kid we called him Grandpa Pizza Pie! He made cakes with more layers than onions, and were chocolate. Oh he loved her, I don't know what happened between them, but everyone should have someone love them the way this man loved Grandma!

As I was older, I didn't get to see her very much. We talked on the phone until her hearing got to bad. She was always happy to hear from me, and I made sure to send her photos of the kids. Grandma had 2 children, 4 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. I can say that she was a fabulous grandmother that has given me so much. She spent quality time with me as a kid and as she leaves this Earth leaves me for one with joy for having had her as my grandmother. Although I am sad to say goodbye, I am happy and relieved that she left with little pain and suffering and her dignity in tact as much as one can at 95 years!

Grandma thank you for being part of my life... you will always be remembered!

PS- I will add some photos in the next few days as I have time to scan some in!

1 comment:

Thanks for writing this in time for me to read graveside today. You contributed something important. I couldn't get my act together to compose something so fitting. Your memories parallel mine. I basically cried as I read it out loud. I am sure no one (the boys, and the funeral director, and grave diggers) knew what I was saying, but they knew I was saying something important. You made it hard for me to write something original, but also inspired me to the challenge and find more to say.

Special Thanks!

Just wanted to add a note of special thanks to my children, Zach, Ariana and Nikolas and my nephews William, Scott and David, for the use of their adorable toes in the photo on my new header! I know it was such torture to take these pictures however, I thank you, even though not one of the 300 plus photos I took has all of you looking in even close to the same direction! I love all of you just the same!